Exploring patient participation in reducing health-care-related safety risks

ABSTRACT
Patients’ rights have been formulated in a number of documents and guidelines from various international
bodies. Laws and declarations on patients’ rights do not automatically make health care safer, but can help to
empower patients. Empowered patients are in a better position to manage their own health and health care
and to participate in efforts to improve safety. The report presents an overview of legal aspects influencing
patient safety and describes examples of patient involvement. It highlights the need to strengthen a
continuum of information between various levels of care, including patient experiences, health literacy and
engagement. The work is expected to contribute to the wider process of evidence collation aimed at finding
efficient ways to build realistic and informed expectations of health care, while encouraging patients to be
vigilant and knowledgeable to ensure maximum safety standards. Recommendations are formulated with
respect to the macro, meso and micro levels of health service delivery.
Keywords
GUIDELINES
HEALTH MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING
PATIENT CARE – standards
PATIENT PARTICIPATION
PATIENT RIGHTS
SAFETY MANAGEMENT
ISBN: 978-92-890-0294-3
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